He said BAE was asked to consider options ranging from "one carrier to no carriers". An announcement is due in October. More than 100 people are already contracted to work on HMS Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales at Rosyth, in Fife, and at BAE on the River Clyde.

And Thomas Docherty, MP for Dunfermline and West Fife, has data showing orders went to 68 firms in 60 constituencies in the UK since 2006. He said this proves the move would cost thousands of jobs.

He said: "To rip up these contracts now would not only be financial madness, but political suicide."